Western Canada Highway News: Canadian Trucker Invents Safety Product

Western Canada Highway News/Spring 2015

Canadian Trucker Invents Safety Product

Marty Vanderhoek is a life long trucker from Langley, B.C. who has been at the wheel since 1975. From fish to fruit he's pulled it all.

His 35 years experience behind the wheel has taught him the many dangers that truckers face every day. One area is that front-end blind spot. which plagues every truck driver. How can you possibly see that car or motorcycle that is running beside you and a little ahead of your door? Essentially you can't - until now!

Marty has invented the Smart Lite, a simple system that he says is "a breakthrough in commercial trucking that will save lives."

Smart Lite uses mirror to mirror technology to eliminate front end blind spots. All large trucks have side mirrors that a driver uses to view everything beside and behind the truck. Smart Lite is mounted on both sides at the rear and and at the top of a truck. This is the lace where the trucks reverse or back up lights are typically mounted on semi trailer trucks.

Smart Lite is a replacement for the original back up lights that most trucks are equipped with, but can also be installed as a new feature on a truck if the trucks reverse lights are mounted somewhere else on the truck.

Smart Lite is made with a back -up light or turn signal on one side of a convex mirror on the opposite side. From the cab, a driver now simply needs to just take a split second glance through the side mirror of the truck and back to the mirror built into the Smart Lite.

Truckers are already hailing this simply, yet revolutionary safety device for its simplicity and effectiveness. It has already received an endorsement by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia as a safety feature that greatly improves trucker safety.

For the original article click here  Highway News (Spring 2015) page 81

Asian Trucker Magazine: Canadian Trucker With Over 35 Years Experience Invents A Simple Device That Improves Road Safety

Ontario: Winter Conditions Add To Commercial Truck Accident Concerns

Ontario: Winter Conditions Add To 

Commercial Truck Accident Concerns

The Ontario Provincial Police is concerned about the number of commercial truck related accidents this winter. They have responded to more than 1,200 commercial motor vehicle collisions since November 1.

Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 17 the OPP responded to 1,295 collisions that involved commercial trucks with more than 220 of these incidents having occurred over the past 10 days alone. In one recent incident, the driver of the tractor trailer drove into a bridge support, resulting in the jackknifed truck, leaking approximately 15,000 litters of diesel fuel into a creek.

The OPP continues to see large trucks lose control and roll over when the drivers ignore posted ramp speed advisories signs, and they fail to slow down, when travelling on highway on and off ramps.

"The OPP acknowledges that many commercial motor vehicle drivers take their driving responsibilities seriously, but it is imperative that every person, who drives a large truck, recognises the increased risks and social costs. The risk of death and serious injuries is greater, and the property damage and disruption to the movement of traffic are more extensive, when large load bearing vehicles are involved in collisions," 

Nine of the commercial truck road crashes, since Nov 1, resulted in the loss of life. Since the beginning of 2014, the OPP has responded to more than 8,850 collisions that involved a truck, with 74 resulting in deaths.

The OPP is reminding drivers to:

-Adjust your speed and slow right down when visibility and road conditions deteriorate and avoid non essential travel during these periods.

-Activate your full set of headlights every day throughout the winter months, since using the full set of headlights is the only way to completely engage your rear lights and this is critical in helping to reduce the risk of collisions when driving in poor visibility.

About Smart Lite 
                                               
                                                                            

60% of all truck accidents are directly contributed to the front end blind spot of commercial trucks. In North America alone over 5,000 deaths and 140,000 injuries occur annually. At Smart Lite we believe that those statistics are far too high.

What is Smart Lite? Smart Lite is designed to reduce crashes, to save lives and to reduce injuries. The system was designed by Marty Vanderhoek, a professional commercial truck driver with over 20 years experience in the industry. It is a simple, yet unique design that utilises simple mirror to mirror technology to completely expose the entire front end area of the truck to the driver from inside the cab. As a result. the device offers the driver a clear and unrestricted view of any vehicle, motorcycle, cyclist or pedestrian that could be in the front or blind spots or no zone area of the truck.

No high tech cameras, mirrors or unreliable beeper systems. With Smart Lite the driver instantly sees whatever is in the front and blind spot areas of the truck by a split second glance into the West Coast mirror. For more information on the Smart Lite system please visit our web page or contact us at info@xlite.ca  

About Marty Vanderhoek : Inventor of the Smart Lite 

Marty Vanderhoek is a life long trucker from Langley, B.C., Canada whose been at the wheel since 1975, from fish to fruit he’s pulled it all.

His 35 years experience behind the wheel has taught him the many dangers that truckers face on a daily basis. One area is that front end blind spot that plagues every truck driver. How on earth can you see that car or motorcycle that is running beside you and a little ahead of your door?. Essentially, you can't! Until Now....

Drawing upon his 35 years experience behind the wheel Marty invented the Smart Lite; A simple system which he says is “A breakthrough in commercial trucking that will save lives” According to Marty "The Smart Lite device is revolutionary in that it allows the operator to see what is occupying the space in that front end blind spot. Before Smart Lite there was no device or system that allowed the operator to make a 100% visual determination of what was beside him and a little ahead of his door. With Smart Lite that problem is now solved."

Indeed, this simple yet revolutionary safety device is already being hailed by commercial truckers for its simplicity and effectiveness. The device has already received an endorsement by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) as a safety feature that greatly improves trucker safety.

"A Breakthrough In Commercial Trucking That Will Save Lives!"

FE Fleet Equipment Magazine: Smart Lite Aims To Eliminate Front End Blind Spots

In the second week of December, 2014, Marty Vanderhoek, a life long trucker from Langley, B.C., Canada and the inventor of the Smart Lite was interviewed by FE Fleet Equipment Magazine.

The article appears below for your review. 

Home  Magazine  2015 Editions

Smart Lite aims to eliminate front end blind spots

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• ■Electrical & Lighting
• ■January, 2015

by Fleet Equipment Staff - Dec 11, 2014

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Marty Vanderhoek, a life-long commercial trucker from Langley, B.C., Canada, invented Smart Lite to combat one dangerous area on a commercial truck – the front end blind spot. According to Vanderhoek, Smart Lite is a simple system designed to save lives.

All large trucks have side mirrors that a driver uses to view everything beside and behind the truck, Vanderhoek said. Although the driver can see behind or beside his or her truck the driver still cannot always see everything that is forward of the doors on the truck where the side mirrors are mounted. Smart Lite utilizes mirror to mirror technology to eliminate front end blind spots for professional drivers.

Smart Lite is mounted on both sides at the rear and at the top of a drivers truck. This is the place where the trucks reverse or back up lights are typically mounted on semi trailer trucks. Smart Lite is a replacement for the original back up lights that most trucks are equipped with but can also be installed as a new feature on a truck if the trucks reverse lights are mounted somewhere else on the truck. Smart Lite is manufactured with a back up light or turn signal on one side and a convex mirror on the opposite side, according to the company.

“The Smart Lite device is revolutionary in that it allows the operator to see what is occupying the space in that front end blind spot. Before Smart Lite there was no device or system that allowed the operator to make a 100% visual determination of what was beside him and a little ahead of his door. With Smart Lite that problem is now solved,” Vanderhoek said.

The device recently received an endorsement by the Insurance Corp. of British Columbia as a safety feature that greatly improves trucker safety, according to the manufacturer.

Marty Vanderhoek Talks About Smart Lite

About Smart Lite

60% of all truck accidents are directly contributed to the front end blind spot of commercial trucks. In North America alone over 5,000 deaths and 140,000 injuries occur annually. At Smart Lite we believe that those statistics are far too high.

What is Smart Lite? Smart Lite is designed to reduce crashes, to save lives and to reduce injuries. The system was designed by Marty Vanderhoek, a professional commercial truck driver with over 20 years experience in the industry. It is a simple, yet unique design that utilises simple mirror to mirror technology to completely expose the entire front end area of the truck to the driver from inside the cab. As a result. the device offers the driver a clear and unrestricted view of any vehicle, motorcycle, cyclist or pedestrian that could be in the front or blind spots or no zone area of the truck.

No high tech cameras, mirrors or unreliable beeper systems. With Smart Lite the driver instantly sees whatever is in the front and blind spot areas of the truck by a split second glance into the West Coast mirror. For more information on the Smart Lite system please visit our web page or contact us at info@xlite.ca  

About Marty Vanderhoek : Inventor of the Smart Lite 

Marty Vanderhoek is a life long trucker from Langley, B.C., Canada whose been at the wheel since 1975, from fish to fruit he’s pulled it all.

His 35 years experience behind the wheel has taught him the many dangers that truckers face on a daily basis. One area is that front end blind spot that plagues every truck driver. How on earth can you see that car or motorcycle that is running beside you and a little ahead of your door?. Essentially, you can't! Until Now....

Drawing upon his 35 years experience behind the wheel Marty invented the Smart Lite; A simple system which he says is “A breakthrough in commercial trucking that will save lives” According to Marty "The Smart Lite device is revolutionary in that it allows the operator to see what is occupying the space in that front end blind spot. Before Smart Lite there was no device or system that allowed the operator to make a 100% visual determination of what was beside him and a little ahead of his door. With Smart Lite that problem is now solved."

Indeed, this simple yet revolutionary safety device is already being hailed by commercial truckers for its simplicity and effectiveness. The device has already received an endorsement by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) as a safety feature that greatly improves trucker safety.

"A Breakthrough In Commercial Trucking That Will Save Lives!"

Province Newspaper: Gadget Makes The Blind Spot Visible

Province Newspaper: 

Gadget Makes The Blind Spot Visible

On December 23, 2014, The Province Newspaper, a major metropolitan newspaper near Vancouver, Canada wrote a very educational and informative article on Smart Lite. The article written by columnist and 

trucker John Stirling  appeared in the "Trucker" Section of their newspaper.

The product invented by life long trucker Marty Vanderhoek is a breakthrough in commercial truck safety because for the first time a professional driver is able to utilise a device that allows him/her to determine with 100% accuracy a complete and total visual determination of what is or is not in the passenger side blind spot.

No other device or technology, prior to the Smart Lite, has given the operator the ability to make such a valid conclusion.

Marty Vanderhoek Talks About Smart Lite

About Smart Lite

60% of all truck accidents are directly contributed to the front end blind spot of commercial trucks. In North America alone over 5,000 deaths and 140,000 injuries occur annually. At Smart Lite we believe that those statistics are far too high.

What is Smart Lite? Smart Lite is designed to reduce crashes, to save lives and to reduce injuries. The system was designed by Marty Vanderhoek, a professional commercial truck driver with over 20 years experience in the industry. It is a simple, yet unique design that utilises simple mirror to mirror technology to completely expose the entire front end area of the truck to the driver from inside the cab. As a result. the device offers the driver a clear and unrestricted view of any vehicle, motorcycle, cyclist or pedestrian that could be in the front or blind spots or no zone area of the truck.

No high tech cameras, mirrors or unreliable beeper systems. With Smart Lite the driver instantly sees whatever is in the front and blind spot areas of the truck by a split second glance into the West Coast mirror. For more information on the Smart Lite system please visit our web page or contact us at info@xlite.ca  

About Marty Vanderhoek : Inventor of the Smart Lite 

Marty Vanderhoek is a life long trucker from Langley, B.C., Canada whose been at the wheel since 1975, from fish to fruit he’s pulled it all.

His 35 years experience behind the wheel has taught him the many dangers that truckers face on a daily basis. One area is that front end blind spot that plagues every truck driver. How on earth can you see that car or motorcycle that is running beside you and a little ahead of your door?. Essentially, you can't! Until Now....

Drawing upon his 35 years experience behind the wheel Marty invented the Smart Lite; A simple system which he says is “A breakthrough in commercial trucking that will save lives” According to Marty "The Smart Lite device is revolutionary in that it allows the operator to see what is occupying the space in that front end blind spot. Before Smart Lite there was no device or system that allowed the operator to make a 100% visual determination of what was beside him and a little ahead of his door. With Smart Lite that problem is now solved."

Indeed, this simple yet revolutionary safety device is already being hailed by commercial truckers for its simplicity and effectiveness. The device has already received an endorsement by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) as a safety feature that greatly improves trucker safety.

"A Breakthrough In Commercial Trucking That Will Save Lives!"

You Can Help Save Lives.! You Can Make A Difference. Help Make Our Roads And Highways A Safer Place

You Can Help Save Lives.! You Can Make A Difference. Help Make Our Roads And Highways A Safer Place

According to the most recent statistics from the United States Federal Motor Safety Administration (FMSA) there were 5,610,000 total crashes, 30,800 fatal crashes, and over 3,950,000 injuries reported on U.S. highways in 2012. In Canada, a country with a much smaller population, the numbers were still relatively staggering, 122,140 personal injury collisions, 1,823 fatal collisions and 165,172 total injuries.

Marty Vanderhoek is a life-long trucker from Langley, B.C., Canada whose been on the highway at the wheel since 1975, from fish to fruit he’s pulled it all.  

His 35 years experience behind the wheel has taught him the many dangers that commercial truckers face on a daily basis. One area is that front end blind spot that plagues every truck driver. How on earth can you see that car or motorcycle that is running beside you and a little ahead of your door?. Essentially, you can't!  Until Now....

Drawing upon his 35 years experience behind the wheel Marty invented the Smart Lite; A simple system which he says is “a breakthrough in commercial trucking that will save lives” According to Marty "The Smart Lite device is revolutionary in that it allows the operator to see what is occupying the space in that front end blind spot. Before Smart Lite there was no device or system that allowed the operator to  make a 100% visual determination of what was beside him and a little ahead of his door. With Smart Lite that problem is now solved."

Indeed, this simple yet revolutionary safety device is already being hailed by commercial truckers for its simplicity and effectiveness. The device has already received an endorsement by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) as a safety feature that greatly improves trucker safety. 

Currently, Marty is on a fund raising campaign to help raise money to market this product. If you would like to contribute to Marty's campaign then please click here to see how you can get involved.

Diesel Prices: U.S. Trucker's Getting A Break At The Pump

Diesel Prices: U.S. Trucker's Getting A Break At The Pump According to the latest statistics released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration [EIA] the price of diesel, per gallon, has fallen over the past year in all 10 reporting districts. For the country as a whole, the price of diesel has fallen .161 cents per gallon. Region by region the price drop has shown substantial fluctuations. For example, the greatest decrease was in the Central Atlantic region where diesel prices fell .348 cents per gallon. This was in sharp contract to the Midwest where prices only fell .008 cents per gallon. For a complete region by region summary please refer to the Chart A below  Chart A U.S. On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices*  (dollars per gallon)
					Change from
	11/03/14	11/10/14	11/17/14		week ago	year ago
U.S.	3.623	3.677	3.661		-0.016	-0.161
East Coast (PADD1)	3.597	3.568	3.542		-0.026	-0.299
New England (PADD1A)	3.687	3.659	3.633		-0.026	-0.348
Central Atlantic (PADD1B)	3.655	3.634	3.612		-0.022	-0.278
Lower Atlantic (PADD1C)	3.533	3.497	3.469		-0.028	-0.310
Midwest (PADD2)	3.624	3.788	3.786		-0.002	-0.008
Gulf Coast (PADD3)	3.532	3.562	3.542		-0.020	-0.203
Rocky Mountain (PADD4)	3.713	3.796	3.767		-0.029	-0.069
West Coast (PADD5)	3.789	3.782	3.762		-0.020	-0.192
West Coast less California	3.704	3.712	3.720		0.008	-0.152
California	3.861	3.841	3.797		-0.044	-0.225

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration [2014]

Breaking The Diesel Price Down

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration [EIA] the price that truckers pay at the pump for their diesel is the result of costs associated with 4 different pricing mechanisms: cost of crude oil; cost of refining; cost of distribution and marketing; and government taxes.

The latest figures based on September 2014 data with a retail price of $3.79 per gallon showed that 58% of that price was attributed to crude oil cost; 12% for refining costs; 17% for distribution and marketing costs; and 13% for government taxes (see diagram 1) .

Diagram 1

*prices include all taxes




Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration [2014]


About Smart Lite

60% of all truck accidents are directly contributed to the front end blind spot of commercial trucks. In North America alone over 5,000 deaths and 140,000 injuries occur annually. At Smart Lite we believe that those statistics are far too high.

What is Smart Lite? Smart Lite is designed to reduce crashes, to save lives and to reduce injuries. The system was designed by Xlite Enterprises Inc. of Vancouver, Canada by Marty Vanderhoek, a professional commercial truck driver with over 20 years experience in the industry. It is a simple, yet unique design that utilises simple mirror to mirror technology to completely expose the entire front end area of the truck to the driver from inside the cab. As a result. the device offers the driver a clear and unrestricted view of any vehicle, motorcycle, cyclist or pedestrian that could be in the front or blind spots or no zone area of the truck.

No high tech cameras, mirrors or unreliable beeper systems. With Smart Lite the driver instantly sees whatever is in the front and blind spot areas of the truck by a split second glance into the West Coast mirror. For more information on the Smart Lite system please visit our web page or contact us at info@xlite.ca

About Marty Vanderhoek : Inventor of the Smart Lite

Marty Vanderhoek is a life long trucker from Langley, B.C., Canada whose been at the wheel since 1975, from fish to fruit he’s pulled it all.

His 35 years experience behind the wheel has taught him the many dangers that truckers face on a daily basis. One area is that front end blind spot that plagues every truck driver. How on earth can you see that car or motorcycle that is running beside you and a little ahead of your door?. Essentially, you can't! Until Now....

Drawing upon his 35 years experience behind the wheel Marty invented the Smart Lite; A simple system which he says is “A breakthrough in commercial trucking that will save lives” According to Marty "The Smart Lite device is revolutionary in that it allows the operator to see what is occupying the space in that front end blind spot. Before Smart Lite there was no device or system that allowed the operator to make a 100% visual determination of what was beside him and a little ahead of his door. With Smart Lite that problem is now solved."

Indeed, this simple yet revolutionary safety device is already being hailed by commercial truckers for its simplicity and effectiveness. The device has already received an endorsement by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) as a safety feature that greatly improves trucker safety.

"A Breakthrough In Commercial Trucking That Will Save Lives!"

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